Forage crops essential
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Forage Crops

The Essential Guide to Forage Crops The Essential Guide to Forage Crops has been published to help farmers and growers plan an effective forage cropping programme. Although grass has to be the first priority in feeding livestock efficiently, forage crops can play an important role, especially when grass growth dips in the summer months. Many of the crops featured in this guide also allow growers to extend the grazing seasons in both spring and autumn, which can enhance profitability. Conserved fodder crops, such as lucerne and fodder beet, also offer growers the opportunity to store and...

The Value of Forage Crops Our Expertise Crop Rotations Choosing the Right Forage Crop Feeding Guidelines Fodder Beet Kale Stubble Turnip Forage Rape & Hybrids Swedes Forage Peas & Arable Silage Forage Rye Lucerne Forage Chicory Forage Plantain Other Useful Forages Catch Crop Mixtures Feeding Safety Fertiliser Guidelines Precision Drill Recommendations Contacts

Plant Breeding: Our plant breeding programme is currently developing new varieties of Forage Rape, Fodder Beet, Kale and Swedes specifically adapted for the UK climate and markets. This is a long term commitment and will ensure that new varieties and the benefits associated with them, are available to UK farmers in the future. Trials and Demonstrations: We believe that testing and producing meaningful UK trial data is vitally important. Variety selection can play an important role in maximising forage production. We can guarantee that products bred and marketed by LG, have been through a...

Using the chart below, you can easily see how to introduce forage crops into your rotation Just look at the options in the column marked “What do you want to achieve?”. For instance - Cereal to Grass, and then select the year 1 and 2 crop options. Forage crops provide a fantastic break crop and entry back into grass - they allow you to control any serious weed problems and will add vital animal manures back into your soil. What do you want to achieve? Year 1 Crop suggestionsYear 2 Crop suggestionsSPRING AUTUMN/WINTERSPRING AUTUMN/WINTER CEREAL TO GRASS HIGH ENERGY PROFITABLE...

Fodder Beet Kale Stubble Turnip Forage Rape Swedes Lucerne ▲ Forage Peas Forage Rye March - April April - Early July May - August May - August April - June April - August March - Early June Sept - October *Growing costs provided by Kingshay Farming Trust ▲ 3 cuts per year

Many of the forages that appear in this booklet are grazed and utilised in the field (grazed in situ). To get the best from your crops, a few simple steps can make all the difference in maximising animal performance and profitability. The following are some of the key management tools you may consider: • Recommended inclusion rates should be between 35 - 50% of total dry matter intake • Access to straw or hay as well as the forage brassica is important • Ensure a good water supply • Occasionally over-feeding can cause Goitre and blood anaemia but access to straw and hay can help reduce...

Why grow ^ fodder beet? Huge palatable yields Ideal replacement for cereals High energy feed Clamp and store over winter Improved milk yields Palatable and nutritious Can be grazed in situ for outwintering systems Sowing Information Yield & Feed Quality Growing Costs Sowing period Late March to late April Direct drill 100,000 seeds/ha 50,000 seeds/acre Seed sold in one acre packs (50,000 seed units) Average dry matter yield 15-17 tonnes/ha Average fresh yield 80-90 tonnes/ha Dry matter 15-22% Crude protein 12-13% [mainly leaves] Digestibility value 78% Metabolisable energy 12.5-13.5 MJ/kg...

Fodder beet Variety Selection Variety Profiles Tarine A brand new variety which has performed outstandingly in our trials. Tarine has unique, clean, pink roots, with a slightly higher DM content % which enables crops to be harvested later. Tarine is one of the new generation of fodder beets, bred for maximum feed potential from every hectare. Rhizomania tolerance completes its package for outstanding performance. Brick A new high yielding variety, ideal for growers looking to produce a high quality feed with a higher DM content %. Brick is a true fodder beet and therefore exhibits cleaner...

Why grow kale? Higher yields than hybrid rape Buffer feed for dairy cows during dry summers Flexible utilisation period Excellent crude protein content High yields and economical to grow Outwintering systems Sowing Information Yield & Feed Quality Growing Costs Sowing period April - early July Precision drill 2kg/ha (750g/acre), Grade J Direct drill 4-5kg/ha (1-2kg/acre), Natural seed Broadcast 8kg/ha (3kg/acre), Natural seed Average dry matter yield 8-10 tonnes/ha Average fresh yield 60-70 tonnes/ha Dry matter 14-16% Crude protein 16-17% fresh Digestibility value 70-75% Metabolisable...

Dairy & Beef Sheep & LambsTaller, thick-stemmed varieties with Leafy types with a shorter maximum yield potential growing season Variety Profiles Caledonian Caledonian is the highest yielding kale in our trials. It is clubroot resistant, which now enables growers to continually sow kale on clubroot infected sites. Caledonian’s huge yield makes it ideal for utilisation by dairy and beef cattle. thr^mn Sir, Motion Hill Institute Grampian This is a variety bred in Scotland, which will produce excellent autumn or winter feed for both sheep and dairy cows. Grampian exhibits very high...

* Why grow stubble turnip? Fast growing catch crop Autumn or winter feed Finishing lambs Summer buffer feed for dairy cows Economical to grow Flexible sowing options Helps reduce winter feed costs Sowing Information Yield & Feed Quality Growing Costs Sowing period (1) May to June (2) July to August Direct drill 5kg/ha (2kg/acre), Natural seed Broadcast 7.5kg/ha (3kg/acre), Natural seed Average dry matter yield 3.5-5 tonnes/ha Average fresh yields 38-45 tonnes/ha Crude protein 17-18% [mainly leaves] Digestibility value 68-70% Dry matter Metabolisable energy £305 per hectare Fresh...